Summer of U.F.O: Finished Object #1

Since the number of U.F.O around my house is staggering (last count I had 5 quilts in progress and 7 projects on needles) so I decided that this summer I would not start anything new, but I would work on the project closest to being done then go on the next closest etc. Even though it's nearly August and I've only got 1 finished object to show, at least I haven't started anything new!

Here are a few photos of the Blue and White quilt completely done and on my bed!

And a few photos without the flash (this room faces north so it's hard to get an accurate representation of the colors):

I have a lap quilt that just needs one side of the binding sewn down (it's been that way for far too long!) so I hope to post photos of it soon!

Bloggers' Quilt Festival Spring 2011

Welcome to all who are visiting from the Blogger's Quilt Festival and a big thanks to Amy for hosting it! This is my second time participating in the festival and this time I choose a quilt I finished a few years ago.

It's called the Elizabeth Quilt because that is the name of the pattern design by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. I bought the pattern and fabric when I was with my mom (Elizabeth), her best friend and my best friend at the Houston International Quilt Show in 2004. I debated a while about buying the fabric but my friend said it is so "Laura" you must get it so I did. The designer named the quilt Elizabeth because the fabric line is named Wuthering Heights from Moda's Three Sisters line. Since my mom is also named Elizabeth and was with me when I bought it we've always called it the Elizabeth quilt.

My fabulous machine quilter Margaret did a super job machine quilting it with variegated thread:

Here is a picture of the back:

hats, hats, hats

I've been in hat-making mode lately:

I finished up the 2nd snowflake hat

made another umbilical cord hat for a friend's grand baby

and I started another hat for my niece, in light blue of course.

I'd originally planned to use a different yarn even though I didn't think it was quite the right shade because I'd used the same brand (Cascade Bollicine Baby Night) to make her several pink hats. She is, after all, related to me and is very particular about the shade of blue she likes [that's a UNC vs. Duke reference for all you non-basketball fans]. My sister said she liked it but she wasn't too excited so I'd been looking for something else.

On a recent trip to Williamsburg, I went to the fabulous yarn store Knitting Sisters with my mom and found Plymouth Select worsted merino in the perfect shade of blue. I sent her a piece of it and my sister emailed me today that she said: "Let's write her back and say I like the blue. Please make the hat". So cute. I'm on it.

Problem Child II

After I reknit the ribbing on a smaller size needle (size 2!) and had about 5 " inches done, I decided I still didn't like it so I went to Ravelry to see what other hems had been used with this yarn (why I didn't do that initially I have no idea). I found the pattern Grapevine, by the same designer as Peasy, and that several people had added the lace trim to the hem and sleeve cuffs which looked fabulous, so I cast on yet again - hopefully for the last time but the way this project has gone who knows:

Problem Child

This sweater was supposed to be my easy/winter project but it's been anything but. After I started and frogged two different cardigan patterns, I called my mom (which I clearly should have done to begin with) to get her thoughts on what to make and she suggested a pullover because this yarn tends to stretch after blocking.

I found a simple V-neck pullover pattern in a Patons book and I thought I'd add the Peasy lace pattern to it to dress it up a bit, if it's not too hard but the at the rate this project is going I have my doubts. At last I thought I have a plan so I swatched and I knit the ribbing only I really don't like it. It looks too loosey-goosey so I've decided it frog it and go down a needle size. By the time I get this thing going it will be spring and I'll be in the mood for spring colored yarn. . .

And ironically my Dark and Stormy sweater, which requires more concentration, is going along smoothly:

F.O. Sampler Quilt

Some quilt projects (like the blue and white triple irish chain quilt) go together easily and quickly. This one did not. It was the quilt with issues. I bought the pattern at Tennessee Quilts 2 1/2 years ago and glanced at the size and thought "oh that's close to a double bed size". It was not. Thankfully before I added the borders I laid it out on my bed to check the size and discovered it was several inches short on the sides. After racking my brain for a while as to how to fix it, I called my mom in a panic - what to do??? Add more blocks? Another border? In about 2 seconds she came up with idea of adding the half square triangle border and whew problem solved! She is SO good at that it's unreal. Note to self: next time just call her right away.

This quilt top also had several more trials along the way: blocks sewn together in the wrong order, borders sewn to the wrong side, etc. But at last it's done and out of my house and is now at my fabulous machine quilter's house! The back will be a flannel that's very similar to the outer border and the batting will be wool, which I've never used before so am anxious to see what it's like. Margaret is going to custom quilt each block to match the block pattern. It's going to be gorgeous and warm!

People at quilt shows always seem to come up with really clever names for their quilts, but all I've come up with so far is The Pink and Brown Sampler Quilt which is really lame. Maybe by the time I get it back from Margaret I'll have come up with something else. . . I'm also open to suggestions. . .

Dreaming of Spring In the Bleak Midwinter

One of my favorite songs is In the Bleak Midwinter because it sums up well the bleakness of winter perfectly. Back in December, I searched and searched for yarn that felt like winter and I finally found Rowan Felted Tweed grey mist. Then the search began of what to knit with it and after frogging the Transitions Knit Cardigan (the yarn was too fine for the garter yoke) I think I've settled on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan.

Here is the swatch for it:

And while I love the slow and quiet days of winter it, the dry skin, constant sinus headache, weather etc can be wearing, so I thought I'd start a quilt that would remind me of spring. After 2 bed sized quilts I decided a small wall hanging would be a nice change of pace and something that I wouldn't get too bogged down making. Today I started cutting it out - this quilt is fun in that I'm using charm squares (ie precut squares) given to me for Christmas last year by one of my closest friends. The other 2 fabrics are for the borders:

Here are the center squares:

for this quilt pattern: